Hearing Aids

HC Deb 03 April 1952 vol 498 cc1879-82

1. Mr. Leslie Hale

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the long waiting list for hearing aids; and whether he will exempt from liability to make any payment for hearing aids all those people who have made applications and are still awaiting their supply.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Harry Crookshank)

As I mentioned on Second Reading of the National Health Service Bill, it is not proposed to charge for hearing aids.

Mr. Hale

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. He will be aware, of course, that the Question was put down before the Second Reading of the Bill, and we are grateful for even that little concession.

2. Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Health the average period of time which now elapses or is expected to elapse between an application for a Medresco hearing aid and its being supplied.

Mr. Crookshank

The waiting period varies according to the patient's priority and local circumstances, and an average figure is not calculable.

Mr. Hale

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Manchester, in spite of the fact that there is a devoted organisation which is extremely helpful about every case I send, there is a long delay—in many cases much more than 12 months—and can he do something about that and also tell us what is happening about the induction hearing aids?

Mr. Crookshank

Questions dealing with Manchester ought to be on the Paper. Obviously I cannot carry in my mind what happens in every city in the country. It is quite true that there is considerable delay and there are further Questions about it on the Order Paper today.

Mr. A. Woodburn

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether many inroads are being made into the waiting list, or is it still keeping to its high figure?

Mr. Crookshank

If the right hon. Gentleman looks at the Order Paper, he will see that this also is coming up later.

Colonel Sir Leonard Ropner

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he is giving further thought to the possibility of financial aid to deaf people so that they can buy alternative makes of hearing aids?

Mr. Crookshank

That again is to be answered today.

19. Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is about two years' delay in the supply of National Health Service hearing aids; that hearing aids at a cost of £41 are immediately available; and if he will take steps to regulate the production and distribution of all hearing aids.

Mr. Crookshank

I know that there is still considerable delay in supplying patients with aids under the National Health Service, but the rate of distribution of Medresco aids has been steadily increasing and is now higher than ever before. The answer to the last part of the Question is, "No, Sir."

Mr. Freeman

Arising from this, may I ask a question concerning a business woman who purchased one of these hearing aids two years ago at a cost of £10—she was not able to get one free—and who now finds that she is unable to get any batteries for it and is only offered one of these £41 aids, which is the only alternative choice? She cannot wait two years for a further hearing aid. What steps can she take if she cannot afford £41?

Mr. Crookshank

That does not seem to arise out of the Question. The hon. Member has quoted a particular case, and I must ask notice of it.

Mr. Freeman

Did I not send the Minister details of this case only within the last week or two and ask him for information about it?

Mr. F. J. Erroll

Could not the individual concerned go to another firm and get another type of hearing aid?

Mr. E. Fernyhough

asked the Minister of Health the number of outstanding applications for hearing aids at the time that the National Health Service Bill was presented to the House.

Mr. Crookshank

About 94,000.

Mr. Fernyhough

Now that the Minister has seen fit, due to great public agitation, to withdraw the mean charges to which these victims were subjected, will he also withdraw the other mean charges which we are to discuss on the Bill this afternoon?

27. Mr. J. J. Astor

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mrs. Brunsdon, of 54 Brynmon Park, Compton, Plymouth, who has been on the waiting list for a hearing aid since August, 1950, at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, informed the hospital on 22nd January, 1952, that her husband had had a severe stroke, and that she was unable to communicate with him; that the hospital ignored her repeated applications; and if he will ensure that, in future hospitals give consideration to cases of this sort.

Mr. Crookshank

I have made inquiries, and regret the delay which I understand occurred following Mr. Brunsdon's illness. I must, however, rely on hospitals to use their own discretion in giving priority, and they do usually take into account exceptional circumstances of this kind.

Mr. Astor

Is the Minister aware that in fact Mrs. Brunsdon lost her husband and was unable to communicate with him before his death, that she had warned the hospital that this might happen and that the hospital in March gave her the explanation that she has no longer a priority, presumably because she has no one to speak to as she is living alone? Will my right hon. Friend ensure that those in this hospital concerned with similar cases are not only more efficient, but treat similar cases with more consideration and understanding?

Mr. Crookshank

Of course, if those were the facts I would entirely agree with my hon. Friend, but I have a different version of the facts. I am informed that although Mr. Brunsdon has died, his widow has not lost her priority but that she is going to be fitted within the next two or three weeks.

Mr. Astor

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the last communication the hospital made to this lady was exactly opposite to what he has stated?

Mr. Speaker

There seems to be a conflict of evidence here which cannot be straightened out during Question time.